|
|
Good Morning,
Just had an email from my Dutch neighbour in Italy regarding the road up to Ca di Ricco. The strada bianco, whose steep and rugged nature has been a constant feature of our holiday home, has again reached the top of the Anglo-Dutch agenda. For those of good heart and used to highly technical mountain road driving, essentially knocking it down a cog and giving it some whelly, 'the road' has been a secret delight to otherwise refined weeks of higher minded relaxation in the Alta Val Tiberina. The house journal records dozens of 'men of England' reaffirming their place as protector of their spouse and leader of their family by conquering 'the road' - I jest not. Following 'improvements', overseen by our locally-based custodians, the route has been rendered impassible to all but 4wd vehicles, whelly or not! A 10-minute slog up the hill is not too bad in itself, but toss into the equation uncertain first timers arriving late at night, a load of luggage, shopping and/or tired children and combine with the usual no-can-do attitude of today's travelling public and our dream of summer lettings just became a nightmare.
I'm off to check out the situation soon... but if you know of a cheap 4wd Fiat Panda (ex Telecom Italia?) looking to return to its roots, I may be able to help...
This week's website is dedicated to Citta di Castello - a good place to stay if you can't get your hired Twingo up a steep track to some English bloke's house...
ciao
Nick
|
| Dive Worldwide |
| SWIM WITH THE BIG FISH
BELIZE – BEST TIME FOR WHALE SHARKS
MAY & JUNE DEPARTURES
Cost £1,479
Want to swim with the big fish? Last month in southern Belize, divers encountered 19 Whale Sharks on one single boat dive! In the months of April, May and June, these giants of the ocean are attracted to Belize’s southern Barrier Reef by the annual spawning of the Cubera Snappers. Dive Worldwide’s 10-day diving holidays, based at the Hamansi Adventure & Dive Resort, offer great opportunities to dive and snorkel with Whale Sharks in one of the world’s top dive destinations. Departures from London are available throughout May and June. |
| [more] |
|
| Dragoman |
| WORLD MUSIC OVERLANDS
Cost £216
From Mali’s Festival on the Niger and Malawi’s Lake of Stars roadtrip to Brazil’s Rio and Salvador Carnival’s, Dragoman Overland has combined the very best in overland adventure with some of the world’s most memorable musical celebrations in 2007/2008.
|
| [more] |
|
| Equine Adventures |
|
FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS…
THEY’LL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!!!
FAMILY RIDING HOLIDAYS FOR SUMMER
Cost £575
Equine Adventures has an extensive selection of child-friendly riding holidays for summer, ideal for single parents and their offspring, or the whole family! From Ireland to Africa, there’s a ride for everyone!
|
| [more] |
|
| Families Worldwide |
|
NEW
Family Safari, learn a language,
help a school and ‘pick-a-poo’…
IN ZAMBIA
Cost £2,499adt £1,999chd
On Families Worldwide’s exciting new Zambia trip, kids get to experience the real Africa, including spotting big game in South Luangwa National Park, learning bush skills and local crafts, and making new friends during a visit to Yosefe School, and even learn something of Nyanja - the local language! It’s a fantastic opportunity to explore one of Africa’s most intriguing countries, whilst at the same time helping its children – for every booking made, Families Worldwide will make a donation to Yosefe School in the Luangwa Valley. 10-day holidays depart London from July 2007 onwards and are available on a group or tailor-made basis. |
| [more] |
|
| Lakes & Mountains Holidays |
| ROCKY ROAD TRIP
2-WEEK SELF-DRIVE TOURS
Cost £1,412
Beautiful Vancouver is the starting point for Lakes & Mountains Holidays’ 2-week circular self-drive tour exploring the national parks of the Canadian Rockies. It’s a superb opportunity for those who enjoy the flexibility of the open road but has the attraction of pre-booked accommodation, and the option of adventurous diversions. London departures are available from now until 19th October 07. |
| [more] |
|
| Naturetrek |
| AFTER THE SNOW…
WILDLIFE AND WILDFLOWERS IN THE SWISS ALPS
Cost £1,095
After the white-stuff has melted, winter sports have completed their last run for the season and the sun begins to penetrate the freshly exposed pastures, Naturetrek step forth, providing expert guiding during an 8-day appreciation of alpine flora, birds and butterflies in Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland. The Alpine Flowers of the Swiss Alps tour departs London 17th and 24th June 2007. |
| [more] |
|
| Peregrine Adventures |
| **NEWS**
DORJEE SHERPA
WINS RACE!
NEPAL’S NAR, PHU & TILICHO LAKE
Cost £1,575
If winning the annual 10-day Annapurna Mandala Marathon in an impressive 45 hours, 9 minutes and 35 seconds (a trekker would normally need over five weeks!) isn’t remarkable enough, later this month Peregrine guide, Phu Dorjee Sherpa, is about to undertake the Everest Marathon (42km), followed by the Trans Himalayan (1,000km) race in 2008. Peregrine Adventures’ offer a less-speedy 26-day adventure crossing tracks with the Annapurna Mandala Marathon route around Mt Manaslu, up to Nar, into Manang, over the Tilicho Pass to Jomsom. The challenging Nar, Phu & Tilicho Lake trek departs Kathmandu 29th September 2007.
|
| [more] |
|
| Walks Worldwide |
| AN ALTERNATIVE TO HARD ROCK HALLELUJAH
THE WILDERNESS OF FINLAND’S BEAR TRAIL
Cost £1,375
Other than excessive costume design, lyrical monster themes and eventual success of Lordi’s 2006 Eurovision entry, Finland is also proud to present The Bear Trail, Scandinavia’s most well known long-distance hiking trail. As the sounds of popular music continue to resonate across Finland (with yet another entry for 2007), Walks Worldwide offer an alternative non-staged performance with natural talent set against a spectacular backdrop. This 9-day trekking holiday takes travellers through pristine wild forests, over extensive aapa mires (non-forested peatland) and along rugged riverbanks with numerous possibilities of spotting Brown Bear, Elk, migrating birds and interesting flora, departs London 1st and 15th September 2007.
|
| [more] |
|
| Wildlife Worldwide |
| GO APE!
BOOK A GORILLA WEEKEND
AT RWANDA’S NEW & EXCLUSIVE
SABYINYO SILVERBACK LODGE
OPENING SOON…
Cost £2,295
No jetlag on this long haul, short break, just an awesome opportunity to spend an extended weekend Gorilla tracking in Rwanda with Wildlife Worldwide. Guests are accommodated at the brand-new Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, due to open this July under the management of Kenya’s award-winning luxury safari operator, Governors’ Camp. Wildlife Worldwide’s 6-day breaks depart London Heathrow from mid-July 2007. |
| [more] |
|
| |
|
|
